I was a Realtor showing property to a contractor. While he checked the kitchen plumbing, I decided to step outside. Unbeknownst to me, a swarm of bees had landed on the building just above the sliding glass door. As I opened it the whole swarm fell straight down, covering my head and shoulders. My hands twitched, but I thought better of it and froze.

A voice said, "Don't move!" From inside the swarm, I thought, "I ... wasn't ... planning ... to." Then the voice said, "Walk toward me," and I thought, "but I might jiggle the bees!" With no better alternative, I inched forward, very carefully.

The voice said, "Keep coming, keep coming," then "turn left," and I did. That brought me into the dark stairwell to the basement, and suddenly every bee was gone! I was totally "bee-less" -- unstung, astounded -- and thankful to the contractor who knew what to do.

Questions: How unusual is this? Was it the darkness that caused the bees to leave? What else might have worked? If I had just stood there, how long would it have taken the bees to decide to move on?

I'm a gardener and wasn't particularly afraid of honeybees. Now I am eternally grateful to them. We use no pesticides or herbicides, and we manage quite nicely. I wish more people would do the same. We need our honeybees, and they need our protection.

OUARZAZATE, Morocco (AP) — The people are restive, the priesthood is scheming and a fanatic band of insurgents known as the zealots are plotting assassinations — and now to make matters worse, the body of a condemned cult-leader known as Jesus has disappeared from the tomb, apparently following some ancient prophecy. Full Story